Combined corset and diaphragm support



A g 1934- B. M. STRADLING 1,969,952

COMBINED CORSET AND DIAPHRAGM SUPPORT Filed June 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheetl Zhwentor BER-FHA M STRADLING 0% I attorney 193% Q B. M STRADLING1,969,952

COMBINED CORSET AND DIAPHRAGM SUPPORT Filed June 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet2 3nventor BERTHA M- STFZADLING Patented Aug. 14, 1934 nrrss STATESPATENr OFF-ICE 1 Claim. (01. 2-4.3;

This invention relates to a combined corset and diaphragm support, andhas for its object, broadly, to provide a corset of such constructionand arrangement of parts that it will tend to maintain the body in asymmetrical form and will be more comfortable to the wearer thanordinary.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a constructionfor the top of the corset that it will not unduly press the body andwill not cause the flesh of the wearer to be pressed'outwardly or rolledover the edge at the back or beneath the arms. 1 Y

Another object is to provide such a construction that the front part ofthe corset at its top will-not be unduly pressed against the body whenbending forwardly.

lhe invention includes two, front, two-part lacings so that adjustmentsmay be made conveniently to cause the garment to conform to the 29 waistline, abdomen and thighs.

The invention includes a front row of clasps disposed at one side of themedial line so that clasping will be convenient, and that the corset atits front medial line may be smooth and free from buckling orundulations, and includes an elastic detachable stabilizing strip forthe front which supports the diaphragm and takes up any slack at theback of the corset and which normally prevents any looseness orformation of folds of the front of the corset at its upper edges, andtends to depress the body at the diaphragm.

With the foregoing objects in View and others to be mentioned theinvention presents a new and useful construction, combination andarrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes may bemade in form, size, proportions and minor details, said changes beingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of the outer side of the corset whenextended, the diaphragm supporting-strip being shown in dotted lines andbroken away. Fig. 2 is a side view of the dia- 'phragm supporting-strip.Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the front of the corset whenconnected. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a side of the corsetwhen connected.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, numeral10 indicates a rear corset-portion for embracing the back, the sides andhips of the wearer, said corset-portion at its upper extremity beingprovided with a fabric roll 11 and having attenuated vertical pockets 12on its inner side extending from its top 11 to its lower edge 13.Numerals 14 indicate comparatively shortvertical'pockets which areprovided for-the inner side'of the corset-portion 10 and which extenddownwardly from'the roll 11 and receive suitableelastic stays. The partsof the pockets 12 indicated at A receive "suitable elastic staysandtherefore the'upper part is suitably reinforced. The lower parts ofsaid pockets 12 and which terminate at the lower edge 13 of saidcorset-portion arenot provided with stays, and therefore the lower partof said portion 10 which embraces the lower part-of the back and hipswill have a greater degree'of flexibility than the upper part thereofand will not be'reinforced.

Numeral 15 indicates an adjusting-strip con- 7Ov nected at 'one of itsedges with anedge of the corset-portion 10 by pairs of lacing-strands,the upper and lower pairs of said strands being indicated, respectively,at 16 and 17. Numeral 18 indicates a pocket which is provided for theinner side of the adjusting-strip 15 for receiving an elastic stay, andat 19 are indicated fasteningelements which are provided for theadjustingstrip.

Numeral 20 indicates a second corset-portion 0 for embracing the frontof the body, and this is flexibly connected at one of its edges with anedge of the corset-portion 10 by means of pairs of lacing-strands, theupper and lower pairs of said strands being indicated at 21 and 22respectively. 35- Numerals 23 indicate pockets which are provided i forthe second corset-portion 20 for receiving elastic stays so that thesaid corset-portion 20 may be vertically reinforced. Numerals 24indicate fastening elements for said corset-portion.

An angular opening is formed in the lower part of the frontcorset-portion 20 to open on its lower edge for an elastic gusset 25 tobe secured therein.

Numeral 26 indicates a fabric strip which is disposed transversely ofthe corset-portion 10 near its upper edge and secured to the inner sidethereof for resisting stresses.

Numerals 27 indicate hose supporting-strips each secured to the lowerextremity of the corset in line with a reinforcing pocket 12 or 23.

It will be understood that when the corset is in use the elastic gusset25 will be disposed at the medial line of the body at the lower part ofthe abdomen, the upper extremity of the corsetportion 20 being disposedapproximately at the diaphragm. By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawingsit will be seen that while the upper part of the corset-portion 10 isreinforced vertically with elastic stays the lower part thereof isdevoid of stays and therefore will not resist pressure, this being adesirable feature to permit this part of said corset-section, byoperation of the elastic gusset 25, to conform to the curvature of thethighs, the operation of said gusset being that, by its retraction itwill cause the lower part of the corset-section 10 to be pressed and tosnugly fit the curved portions of the thighs, and any buckling of thispart of the garment will be prevented.

The diaphragm support consists of an elastic band 28 provided at itsends with fastening elements 29. The rear corset-portion near its topand adjacent to its side edge is provided with fasteners 30, and theband 28, by use of these interengaging fastening elements, maybedetachably secured to said rear corset-portion. I

The elastic band 28, in form, is convergent toward its ends and isdisposed on the outer side.

of the corset-portions 10 and 20 at their upper extremities. It has anadequate width at its middle to overlie the upper part of the frontcorset-portion 20 and, when expanded, to exten above the top of saidportion 20. Y

In operation, when the corset is in use, retraction of the elastic band28 will prevent any looseness of the corset-portion 10 at the upper partthereof and will cause the vertical elastic stays in pockets A and 14 tobecome bent to conform to the curvatures of the back of the wearer.'Also the band 28 by its retraction, depresses the front part of thebody at the diaphragm.

.By referring to'Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the pair oflacing strands 21 and 22, approximately midway between their ends, areconnected with each other at intervals of their lengths to provide anon-extensible part 31, and

therefore the adjacent edges of the adjusting strip 15 andcorset-portion 10 at their upper or lower extremities may be disposednearer to or further from each other as may be required for adjustments,and similar adjustments may be made for the corset-portion 20 inconnection with said corset-portion 10.

It is considered that the advantage derived by use of the'two frontlacings and the adjustingstrip as shown and described is the fact thatthey cause adjustment of the form of this part of the body, the flesh atthe abdomen being pressed laterally instead of being crowded toward thecenter.

I claim as my invention,--

In a combined corset and diaphragm support, a transversely andlongitudinally reinforced corset-portion for the back, sides and hips ofthe wearer, alongitudinally reinforced second corsetportion connected ata longitudinal edge with a longitudinal edge of the first namedcorset-portion for the front of the body, a longitudinally reinforcedadjusting-strip disposed between said corset-portions and removablyattached at an edge with an edge of the second corset-portion,lacing-strands nonextensibly connecting an edge of the adjusting-stripwith an edge of the first named corset-portion and arranged to permitadjustments of the upper or lower extremities of said adjusting-stripwith the first named corsetportion to closed or spaced relation, and anelastic band detachably secured at its ends to the upper part of thefirst named corset-portion and engaging-said adjusting-strip andsecondcorsetportion.

BERTHA M. STRADLING.

